IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0     SflM  IIM 

■^  1^    IIIII2.2 


I.I 


1.25 


^  9i&   ^ 

-  1^  iio 


1.8 


^  IIIIIM 


V] 


^. 


Va 


7: 


'4^^^ 


7 


Hiotographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAi:4  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14S80 

(716)  872-4  j03 


^^ 


i\ 


:\ 


\ 


^<b 


V 


c,\ 


^ 


^ 


^ 


u 


^1% 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  histrriques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notas/Not«t  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
whkh  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


D 
D 


D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Cci:verture  de  couiaur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagie 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurte  et/ou  pelliculAe 


I      I   Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  da  couverture  manque 


I      I   Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  gAcgraphiques  en  couleur 


□   Coloured  inic  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  blacic)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bieue  ou  noire) 

r~n   Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Rell6  avec  d'autres  documents 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serr^e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  is  long  de  la  marge  intirieure 

Blanit  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouties 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte. 
mais,  lorsque  cela  Atait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  *t6  film6es. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplAmentalres: 


Tl 
to 


L'Iniititut  a  microfilmi  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  At6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exempiaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mtthode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqu6s  ci-dessous. 


I      j   Coloured  pages/ 


D 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagtes 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restauries  et/ou  pellicul6«s 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxet 
Pages  dAcolortes,  tachettes  ou  piquies 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d6tach6es 

Showthroughy 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prifi 

Qualit6  in6gale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplAmentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


I     I   Pages  damaged/ 

I      I   Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

rj~>  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

I      I    Pages  detached/ 

pTyK  Showthrough/ 

I      I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 

n~|    Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I      I    Only  edition  available/ 


Pages  whoMy  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc..  ont  M  filmAes  A  nouveau  de  fa9on  A 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


Tl 

P< 
o\ 
fil 


O 

b< 
th 
si 
01 
fil 
si 
01 


Tl 
s^ 
Tl 
w 

M 
di 
er 
b( 

"1 
re 
m 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checited  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmA  au  taux  de  rMuction  indiqu4  ci-dessous. 


10X 


14X 


18X 


22X 


26X 


30X 


J_ 

l^^^t  1 

12X 


lex 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


L'exemplaire  filmd  fut  reproduit  grdce  d  ia 
g6n6ro8it6  de: 

Bibliothdque  nationale  du  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  Tiicrofiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  y  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin.  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettet6  de  l'exemplaire  film6.  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimde  sont  filmds  en  commen^ant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  er  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration.  soft  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autreii  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film6s  en  commenqant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  u 'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaftra  sur  ia 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  —►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc..  nr.^y  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  Included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmds  d  des  taux  de  rMuction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  film6  d  partir 
de  Tangle  supdrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nicessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


f  ,■  I:  ■ 

2 

3 

t  2  3 

4  5  6 


/■'';)•'/>■'    fr'L 


^;: .  . 


ilf. 


4-  '/  '   ^  ^/ 


(f^U^ 


f 


t^x^r*^ 


C^' 


BRIEF   ACCOUNT 


OF   THE 


LATE  REVIVALS  OF  RELIGION 


IN  A  NUMBER  OF  TOWNS  IN  THE 


New-England  S^ates^ 


AND   ALSO   IN 


NOVA. SCOTIA. 


EXTRACTED  CHIEFLY  FROM  LETTERS  WRITTEN  BY 
SEVERAL  GENTLEMEN  Of  UM QUESTIONABLE  VE- 
RACITY. 


To  '•jfhlch  is  addedi 

A  VERY  INTERESTING  LETTER, 

From  a  Minister  in  London  to  his  Friend  in  Mirjaclmfetts, 


It.'. 


BOSTON  : 
PRINTED  BY  MANNING  l^  LORING. 


Sept,  1799. 


I 

Ik 


■nv 


a 


4  .  -. 


I 


I 


A  BRIEF  ACCOUNT,  ^c. 


EXTRACT  I.     Mr.  S W ,  o/lVind- 

/jam,  in  Connsiilcut,  thus  ivrites  to  his  friend  in  Bojlon* 

Windham,  Oil.  2,  1798". 

Rei3.  and  dear  Sir^ 

YOU  will  pardon  me  for  uiTng  the  freedom  to  trouble 
you  with  a  line  from  fo  unworthy,  though  fincere 
friend.  It  is  a  time  of  general  health  in  thefe  parts  ;  but 
this  is  not  the  beil  news  I  lliall  acquaint  you  with  :  for  **  as 
cold  water  to  a  thirfty  foul,  fo  is  good  news  from  a  far  coun- 
try."— God  is  carrying  on  a  glorious  work  in  feverai  towns 
tn  thefe  parts.  The  work  began  in  Mansfield,  firft  foclety, 
about  five  or  fix  months  age,  in  a  very  gradual  manner ;  but 
foon  took  a  very  rapid  fpread  in  the  weft  part  of  ihe  town. 
A  fernuon  preached  in  that  neighbourhood  at  a  funeral,  by 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Shearman,  was  greatly  bleflld.  The  Spirit 
of  the  Lord  feemed  to  fweep  all  before  it  like  an  overflowing 
flood,  though  with  very  little  noife  or  crying  out.  It  is  won- 
derful to  fee  the  furprifing  alteration  in  that  people  in  fo  fhort 
a  time.  I  conclude  there  are  not  lefs  than  an  hundred  fouls 
converted  In  that  town  fincf  the  work  began.  Soon  after, 
it  began  in  Hampton,  but  dla  not  fpread  with  that  degree  of 
rapidity  as  it  did  in  Mansfield.  The  fame  happy  work  has 
lately  taken  place  in  Afhford,  in  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pond's  foci- 
ety,  with  a  good  degree  of  power.  It  lias  alfo  fpread  into 
the  fecond  fociety  in  Mansfield,  under  the  paftoral  care  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Wel/li ;  alfo  in  the  upper  part  of  Canterbury,  and 
lately  in  Abington  fociety  in  Pomfret. 

Dear  fir,  we  may  fay,  in  the  midft  of  judgment  God  is 
fhowing  himfelf  marvelloufly  good  and  kind  ;  and  as  it  feem- 
ed our  land,  a  few  months  ago,  was  fully  ripe  for  deftruc- 
tion,  and  the  hot  thunderbolts  of  divine  wrath  were  hang- 
ing over  our  heads,  yet  God  has  made  a  rich  difplay  of  his 
grace,  in  the  converfion  of  fo  many  fouls.  One  thing  is  re- 
markable in  this  reformation,  there  is  fuch  evidence  carried 
in  the  work,  that  none,  or  but  very  few  dare  to  oppofe  it. 


^•1 


I 


^r, 


I 


f 

•i 


[ 


1 


,1 


i  ( 


1 

w 


T^'^otry,  which  was  To  common  between  the  Standing  Order 
(Congregationaiiiis)  and  tlie  DifTcnters,  is  done  away.— 
This  work  is  chiefly  among  the  Standing  Order. 


ung 


EXTRACT  2.     Containing  a  further  account  of 

the  fame  tuorhy  in  a  letter  from  the  Rev.  E P— — .  to 

his  Parents^  dated  Jjfljford^  September  24,  1798. 

Honored  Parents^ 

I  MUST  inform  you  of  the  work  of  God,  which  is  go- 
ing on  in  thefe  parts.  Early  in  May,  an  attention  be- 
fan  in  the  firft  fociety  in  Mansfield,  which  incrcafed  to  a 
great  degree,  fo  us  to  become  general.  It  then  began  in 
Hampton,  and  is  as  general  as  in  Mansfield.  About  four 
weeks  flnce,  it  began  here,  and,  for  the  time,  has  fprcad  ve- 
ry fait  ;  {0  that  about  eighty  have  been  under  great  concern: 
Of  this  number,  nearly  twenty  have  a  hope  that  thsy  have 
been  **  born  again."  The  work  feems  to  befpreading.  In 
one  family  of  my  people  who  have  only  three  little  daugh- 
ters, the  eldeft  fifteen  years  old,  they  all  give  evidence  that 
they  have  been  born  again  !  The  work  has  alfo  began  in  Mr» 
Welih*s  fociety  in   Mansfield  ;    and  the  profpefts  are  very 

favourable  in  Weftford. Do  unite  in  prayer  to  God; 

if  only  two  or  three,  don't  omit  it,  that  God  would  pour 
out  his  Spirit  upon  you.  This  feems  to  have  been  the  be- 
ginning of  the  work  in  Mansfield. 


EXTRACT    3.      Containing  an  account  of  the 

leginning  of  the  reformation  in  Hartford,  in,  a  letter  from  the 

Ren),  S .S".  A^ ,  of  that  Citj/t  to  his  friend  in  Bof 

ton,  dated  January  14,  1799. 

Rev.  and  dear  Sir, 

A  GLORIOUS  revival  of  religion  has  lately 
taken  place  among  us.  Two  of  my  brothers- 
in-law,  the  youngeft  about  1 2  years  old,  and  the  other  four- 
teen, had  been  under  deep  convi6lion  at  times,  for  feveral 
weeks  before  our  lafl  Thankfgiving  ;  and  on  that  day,  whilft 
1  was  preaching,  the  youngeft  was  brought  out  clear  in  his 
mind,  and  went  home  with  his  little  foul  overflowing  with 
joy.     This  affe(iled  the  whole  family  j  feveral  of  whom  we 


truaj 
cd, 

fhalll 
houl 
who] 
I 
ed  , 
(till 

amoi 

and' 
M 

H. 

us. 


I 


ig  Order 


c 


5 


] 


IS  go. 
:ion  be- 
ed  to  a 
>egan  in 
ut  four 
Cful  ve- 
)ncern : 
-y  have 
ig.    In 
daugh- 
ce  that 
in  Mr. 
re  very 
•  God; 
d  pour 
the  be- 


f  the 
'om  the 
H  Bof» 


lately 

thers- 

four- 

2veral 

in  his 

with 

n  we 


tnid,  could  rejoice  with  him  ;  all  the  refl  were  much  alarm- 
ed, and  led  to  cry  out  under  pungent  conviclion,  **  What 
fhall  we  do  to  be  faved  ?"  IVom  this  it  has  fprcad  from 
houfe  to  houfc,  and  from  heart  to  heart,  till  almoft  the 
whole  City  has  got  alarmed. 

I  think  as  many  as  15  or  20  have  been  hopefully  convert- 
ed ;  many  more  arc  under  painful  convi<5tion?,  and  the  work 
(hll  fpreading.  It  has  aifo  extended  its  hap])y  influence 
among  the  other  denominations,  and  they  open  conferences, 
and  welcome  its  approach. 

We  have  meetings  almoft  every  evening  in  the  week. 
Here  is  furely  a  Macedonian  cry,  "  Do  come  over  and  he5;p 
us." 


EXTRACT  4*     Containing  a furihcr  accGunt  rf 

the  fame  tvori,  in  a  letter  from  the  Rev»  y B ,  chi' 

ted  at  Trumbull^  February  6,  1799*  to  his  friend  at  Nezv' 
bury- Port* 

My  dear  fri'nd  and  hrothery 

THROUGH  the  kind  hand  of  God,  I  arrived  here 
yederday.     I  (bpped  at  Hartford,  and  preached  rive 
fermons. 

The  fpir  it  of  hearing  at  Hartford  is  greater  rhan  any  rcp- 
refcntaiions  which  hrivo  been  made.  Young  people  of 
both  fexes  flock  by  hundreds,  and  the  profped  is  flattering 
in  the  extreme.  Conference  n)eeiir.g3  are  held  evety  night 
in  difFetent  private  houfes.  In  Mr.  Strong's  fociety,  60  ave 
thought  to  be  under  convl(ilion,  and  20  huve  been  hopefully 
brought  into  gofpel  liberty.  In  Mr.  Nelfori's  30,  and  fome 
in  Mr.  Flint's. 

The  youth  hold  correfpondence  one  v/ith  another  by  let- 
ter, and  with  thofe  of  the  neighbouring  tov/ns.  Hundreds 
are  under  fome  ferious  concern,  while  hundreds  more  (hind 
aftonifhed,  and  are  ready  to  cry,  "  What  meaneth  ail  this  r'* 

The  Lord  feems  to  have  ftcpped  out  of  the  ufual  path  of 
Ordinances,  to  eflTetS  this  work  more  immediately  i-n  the  dlf- 
plays  of  his  almighty  power  and  out-pouring  of  his  Spirit  ; 
probably  to  fliovy  that  the  work  Is  his  own.  It  is  not  attend- 
cd  with  noife  and  confufion,  but  with  folenmity  and  rever- 
ence. No  fire  ;  no  rufiiing  wind  ;  no  earthquake  :  but  a 
ilill  fmall  voice  goes  before  this  wonderful  work  i  no  doubt^ 


I' 

•I 

♦■  I 


i 

•1. 


f 


\ 


i 

r 


I 


i»  i, 


;if 


11 


'■    5 


) 


C      «      3 

to  lilde  prWc  from  m;tn.  The  minifters  are  (llrred  up  to 
liPCcMunion  dilii^ence  and  labour,  fo  that  they  have  fcarcely 
time  to  prepare  lor  public  txercires, 

"^i^he  facred  llame  has  iprcad  into  many  neighboring  towns,* 
an  1  the  pious  are  flocking  into  Hartford  to  be  eye-witneffes 
cFthis  c'orious  work.  1  have  felt  myfelf  fo  much  engaged 
in  preaching,  vifiriiig  and  conveifmg  with  old  and  young, 
that  my  attention  has  been  literally  taken  off  from  Wife, 
Cliildren,  Flock,  and  bodily  infiimities.  O  that  my  paft 
time  had  been  better  emjJoyed  and  filled  than  it  has  been. 
i^hould  my  health  be  continued,  I  hope,  by  the  grace  of  God, 
to  fpend  my  fb.enj'th  wlicliy  in  the  Lord's  caufe,  which 
carries  its  own  reward  with  it. 

Two  hundred  utiles  N.  W.  of  Hartford,  on  the  border  of 
the  Indian  nations,  I  am  informed  that  the  Lord  is  pouring 
rut  his  fpirit  plentifully.  The  Aborigines  flock  to  hear  the 
gofpel,  and  fall  under  the  word  like  Dagon  before  the  Ark. 
I  have  feen  a  preacJier  from  thofe  parts,  who  gives  the  moft 
fiittciing  accounts,  and  informs,  that  very  large  numbers 
have  been  added  to  the  churches  in  that  vicinity  the  laft  year. 

After  fernion   was   finifhed  u!)on   a   late  occafion  in   the 

i, 

woods,  an  Indian  flood  up  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  and  thus 
addrcflld  ihe  audience  :  "  I  defire  to  blefs  God,  that  white 
people  ever  came  into  this  country.  White  people  brought 
the  bible,  and  th''  religion  of  Jsfus  with  them.  White  peo- 
ple prayed  for  the  converfion  of  the  heathen,  and  I  (land  up 
this  day  as  a  living  witnels  of  the  power  of  God's  converting 
P;race  m  unjkuer  to  their  prayers.  Continue  to  pray  for  the 
converfion  of  more  heatiiens,  that  they  alfo  may  be  brought 
to  the  knowledge  of  jtfus." 


Inl 

this 
vice 
to  rel 
Tl 

my 
comii 
of  fil 

nite 
ing 


EXTRACT  5.     Rev,  C B- 


— ,  of  Shaft/' 

lury,  in  Venn  out,  gives  the  fQlIo-wlng  particulars  oj  the  rcf' 
ormaticv  in  that  tt.'ivn, 

Rtv.  Siry  Feb.  21,  1799. 

I  AM  fenfible  that  under  too  great  a  degree  of  animation, 
even  Chriftlans  too  often  exaggerate  their  accounts  of 
revivals  of  religion.  But  I  will  attempt  a  fimple,  b'  t:  fhort 
rarrcitive  of  the  late  v^onde'f  il  v.'oik   of   God  in  this  place. 

*  It  is  mtiitioned  in  a  letter  from  a  r«.l[.'cCtable  charatfler  iii 
Hartford,  of  April  2j,  that  it  has  /pread  into  nearly  one  hundred 
towns. 


red  up  to 
e  fcarceiy 

g  towns,* 
witnefles 
engaged 
id  young, 
Dm  Wife, 
my  paft 
has  been, 
e  of  God, 
e,  which 

border  of 
pouring 
hear  the 
he  Ark. 
the  moft 
numbers 

la/l  year, 
in  the 

and  thus 

I  at  white 
brought 

"lite  pco- 

ftand  up 

nverting 
for  the 

brought 


Vjaftf. 
the  rcf. 

1799- 

^■lation, 
unts  of 
^  Hiort 

place. 

^er  in 
undrei 


[7        ] 

In  the  mo"«th  of  April  lafl:,  there  appeared  nothing  among 
this  people  but  the  moft  rapid  incteafe  of  every  fpecics  of 
vice  and  immorality  ;  and  even  piofefTors  had  grown  cold  as 
to  religious  exerclfes. 

Towards  the  laft  of  that  month,  it  pleafed  God  to  vifit 
my  poor  foul  with  fome  fcnfe  of  my  own  vilencfs  and  fliort 
comings,  and  how  little  I  had  done  for  God  and  the  good 
of  fouls.  At  this  time  I  think  I  had  a  glimpfe  of  the  infi- 
nite eharaiSler  of  Jehovah,  which  made  me  flirink  into  noth- 
ing in  my  own  elleem  ;  then,  to  my  ailoniflmient,  my  foul 
was  Ihangely  drawn  forth,  at  particular  times,  in  fecret 
prayer,  for  the  falvation  of  finn^rs.  Repeated  exercifes  of 
this  kind  gave  me  a  llrong  confidence,  that  the  Lord  would 
foon  work  falvation  in  this  place.  There  v/ere,  however, 
no  favourable  fy.nptoms  among  the  people  until  the  month 
of  July  ;  then  a  young  woman,  who  had  been  converted 
fome  years  before,  was  ftirred  up,  and  came  forward  in  bap- 
tifin.  Her  converfion  was  made  the  mean  of  the  awaken- 
ing of  a  number  of  young  people.  Thus  the  work  began. 
In  Auguft,  four  perfons  more  were  baptized.  In  Septem- 
ber, I  baptized  feventeen.  Many  v^ere  awakened  by  the  fo- 
lemnity  of  this  ordinance.  (Indeed  I  think  there  was  no 
one  mean  more  bleffed  for  the  convi<5t^ion  of  /inners,  through 
the  whole  courfe  of  this  work,  than  the  adminillration  of 
baptifm.)  But  to  return  ;  we  as  yet  held  our  church  con- 
''jrences,  to  hear  the  relations  of  candidates,  but  once  a 
month.  At  the  clofe  of  Odtober,  we  were  obliged  to  attend 
two  days,  and  then  were  not  able  to  hear  all  that  wifhed  to 
relate.  The  next  Lord's-day  was  a  fevere  ftorm  ;  baptifin 
was  omitted :  The  church  attended  two  days  of  that  week 
alfo,  to  hear  the  young  converts  declare  what  the  Lord  had 
done  for  them.  I  was  then  under  the  neceilky  t©  call  for 
afiidance  in  adminiftering  baptifm.  Accordingly,  brother 
Samuel  Rogers  attended  the  next  Sabbath,  and  we  ba])tized 
46  that  day.  We  then  found  it  neceiTary  to  hold  our 
church  conferences  to  hear  rehuions  once  a  v/eek.  The 
next  Sabbath  1  baptized  2 1  ;  the  next  1 6  ;  the  next  1 3  ; 
the  next  9  ;  and  there  have  been  but  a  few  weeks  fince,  that 
I  have  not  been  called  to  the  precious  work  of  baptizing. 
Zion's  gates  were  truly  then  thronged  with  converts  ! 

The  whole  number  added  to  this  church,  fmce  lafl:  May, 
is  175  ;  25  \yj  letter  and  other  v\ays  ;  and  15c  by  bMptifin. 
Our  whole  number  is  346.   Many  of  this  number  are  remo?- 


r 


r 


»•  T 


1 


I 


i* 


i 


M 


AM 


!5 


■  »i  S 


1 1*1 
1    i 


C         8         1 

td  into  different  pnrts  of  the  country  ;  there  are,  howei^r, 
neaily  300  tl\at  live  in  this  vicinity,  the  remotell  of  thf.ai  not 
more  than  fix  miles  fioni  our  meeting-houfe. 

There  have  alfo  been  70  added  to  the  Weft  church  in  this 
town  fince  the  work  began  ;  and  13  to  the  Eaft  church. 

As  CO  the  principal  means  by  which  this  work  has  been 
carried  on,  I  niuft  fay,  that  no  one's  little  or  great  preaching 
can  juftly  lay  any  claim  to  the  honours  of"  it.  Several  bieth- 
ren  in  the  minilhy  have  v'flted  us  in  the  time,  and  all  of 
them  were  blellld  in  their  labours.  A  brother  Jones,  from 
lirt'land,  vas  ar  inlhument  for  the  awakeninu  of  feverai. 

1  have  been  lillcd  with  wonder  and  aftonifhment,  to  fee 
how  the  Lord  has  been  pleufed  topreferve  fome  of  almoft  all 
the  preaching  tiat  has  been  in  this  town  fince  I  have  been 
here.  Even  when  I  had  mourned  and  thought  I  had  la- 
bouied  in  vain,  and  that  my  ])reaching  was  as  water  fpiltupon 
a  rock  ;  the  Lord  has  now  made  known  that  he  defigned  it 
for  the  good  of  fouls.  O  my  brother,  let  us  never  be  dif* 
couraged  ;  we  cannot  always  tell  when  our  labours  are  blefT- 
ed.  I  cannot  fay  how  many,  but  the  Lord  has  made  my 
poor  weak  efforts  the  means  of  awakening  a  confiderable 
number.  But  the  greaieft  part  of  the  people  have  been  awa- 
kened by  attending  the  folemnity  of  baptifm,  and  by  conver- 
fation  one  with  another. — Indeed,  the  moft  that  I  can  fay 
is,  It  is  the  Lord's  doing,  and  it  is  marvellous  in  our  eyes. 

There  has  not  in  years  pall  been  the  moft  cordial  fellow- 
(litp  between  the  three  churches  in  this  town  ;  but  the  Lord 
has  now  effeded  a  happy  union  between  us.  On  the  lafl 
Lord's-day  in  January,  we  all  met  at  one  communion  table. 
That  happy  day  my  foul  had  defired  for  years.  Nothing 
but  experience  could  have  made  me  believe  it  poflible,  that 
I  could  have  felt  fo  much  folid  delight,  anticipated  fo  much 
trouble,  and  rejoiced  with  fo  much  trembling,  at  one  an,d  the 
fame  time.     That  day  I  truft  will  never  be  forgotten  by  me. 

The  north  part  of  Bennington,  which  lies  fouth  of  us,  has 
fhared  confidcrably  in  this  grace,  and  have  joined  with  the 
churches  in  this  town,  and  fome  few  members  from  the  town 
north  of  us  ;  but  the  greateft  part  that  have  been  wrought 
upon  are  within  this  town,  which  is  fix  mile    ftjuare. 

In  about  two  months  after  the  work  began,  the  whole 
town  feerj.cd  to  be  afJ'c.'fted.  Conference  me'jtings  were  at- 
tended two  or  three  times  in  a  v.  i.ck  in  almoit  every  neigh* 
bcurhood  j  and  It  was  furprifing  to  me,  that  Tcarcely  a  llngle 


iflftaj 

ffionl 

bvou| 

meet 

timei 

peopl 

their| 

thei 

Sinnl 

imml 

sl 

ken 
tiki] 
bowl 
faliftl 
Ii 
edt^ 
year^ 
mail 
ers  ,j 
ump 
agesi 
tizec 
V 
intl 
whc 
'   Go( 


i 


Cf  however f 
o^  thf.ni  not 

^lurch  in  this 
church, 
rk  has  been 
It  preaching 
veral  bi  eth- 
ane! all    of 
ones,  from 
r  reveral, 
tnt,  to  fee 
f  almoft  all 
have  been 
t  I  had  Ja> 
f  i]nh  upon 
Je%ned  it 
^er  be  dif. 
s  are  ble/T- 
made  my 
•nfiderable 
been  awa- 
y  CO  nver- 

can  fay 

eyes. 

feilow- 
the  Lord 

the  Jaft 
on  table. 
Nothin^jT 
>^e,  that 
fo  much 
aad  the 

by  me. 

us,  has 

iv'ith  die 

ie  town 

wrought 

whole 
vere  at- 
'  ncigh» 
a  ilnglc 


3 


C      9       3 

inftancc  appeared  of  any  over-heated  zeal,  or  flight  of  pal- 
flion  !  Both  fmners  under  convitl^lion,  and  thofe  newly 
brought  into  the  liberty  of  the  gofpel,  convcrfcd  in  their 
meetings  with  the  greateft  freedom  ;  they  fpake  one  at  a 
time  a  few  words,  in  the  moft  folemn  manner  I  ever  heard 
people  in  my  life.  And  in  general  they  fpakc  fo  low,  that 
their  aflemblies  mufl  be  perfec^dy  ftill,  or  tht-y  could,  not  hear 
them  ;  Yet  a  remarkable  power  attended  their  converGtion. 
Sinners  would  tremble  as  though  they  felt  themfclves  in  the 
immediate  prefcnce  of  the  great  Jehovah. 

Some  of  all  ranks  and  charaders  among  us  have  been  ta- 
ken ;  from  the  mofl  rcfpedable  members  of  fociety,  to  th« 
▼ikit  in  the  place.  Some  of  our  moft  noted  Dcifts  have 
bowed  the  knee  to  King  Jefus.  And  a  number  of  IJniver- 
faiids  have  forfaken  their  delulions,  and  embraced  the  truth. 

In  the  revival  four  years  ago  laft  fummer,  we  then  receiv- 
ed ten  children  into  the  church,  aged  from  nine  to  thirteen 
years,  with  a  number  of  other  young  people  ;  all  of  them  re- 
main in  good  (landing  with  us,  and  are  now  able  to  help  oth- 
ers J  excepting  one,  who,  I  truft,  is  gone  to  the  church  tri- 
umphant. In  this  revival  we  have  received  fixteen  whofe 
ages  are  from  nine  to  fifteen  years.  From  nine,  1  have  bap- 
tized fome  of  almoft  every  age  to  upwards  of  feventy  ! 

We  have  now  upwards  of  one  hundred  unmarried  perfons 
in  this  church.  There  are  alfo  a  large  number  of  youths 
who  have  joined  the  other  churches  in  this  town.  O  my 
God  !  keep  them  in  the  love  of  the  truth  !  My  very  foul 
trembles  when  I  think  of  them.  There  is  not  a  fufficient 
number  of  young  people  now  left  in  the  town  (who  can  unite) 
to  carry  on  their  merry  meetings.  Every  company  of  them 
is  broken  up. 

I  lately  enjoyed  the  happinefs  of  having  upwards  of 
feventy  youths  and  children,  that  were  profefTors,  to  viiit 
and  hold  a  conference  at  my  houfe  in  one  evening.  You 
may  guefs,  but  it  would  be  difRcult  to  tell,  with  what  a  mix- 
ture of  joy  and  trembling  I  was  then  filled.  ^ 

The  fevereft  cold,  fnow  and  ice  we  have  had  this  tedious 
\vintcr,  I  have  not  heard  once  mentioned  as  any  terror  to  the 
moft  delicate  ladies,  young  or  old,  we  have  in  the  place  ;  but 
they  have  cheerfully  followed  their  Divine  Redeemer  into 
the  liquid  grave,  without  the  lead:  intimidation. 

As  to  myfelf,  I  think  if  ever  I  knew  v.'hat  it  was  to  have 
extraordinary  ftrength,  it  has  bten  within  a  fsw  months  palL 


i 
f' 
^ 


•  I 


1  t, 

lf»t; 


H 


'li 


C 


10 


] 


T 
I 


know] 


EXTRACT  6.     -/^  gcnt!£7}wn  in  Pembroke  thus 

murltes  to  his  friend  in  Bojlon. 

Pembroke,  April  2,  1799. 
Dear  Str, 

GOD  has  been  p!cafed  to  begin  a  glorious  work  in  the 
flrf!  parifh  in  Murfhfield,  and  a  few  fcattering  drops 
in  towns  adjoining,  although  but  a  few  as  yet.  O  may  wc 
ail  be  enabled  to  wreiHe  like  Jacob  and  prevail  like  Tfrael. 
We  need  the  prayers  of^  all  that  have  an  intereii  at  tiie 
thi'one  of  grace,  ilrat  we  may  be  kept  from  error  and  delu- 
fion.  O  may  the  time  foon  come,  when  the  knowledge  of 
God  fliail  cover  the  earth,  as  the  waters  do  the  feas. 

Asto  theptekntllateofthe  reformation  among  us, there  are 
between  30  and  4c,  in  a  judgment  of  charity,  brought  to  the 


Nl 


My  lung?,  which  I  had  thought  were  on  the  decay,  now  to  be 
ieeraed  to  renew  their  youth.  Preaching  three  and  four 
times  a  week,  befides  attending  other  meetings  almoft  every 
day  for  months  together,  feemed  very  little  if  any  to  txhaufl: 
my  (trength.  I  think,  of  all  men  in  the  world,  I  have  the 
grtatell  cimfe  to  be  humble  before  God,  for  his  abundant 
goodnefs  be(lowed  upon  a  moll:  unworthy  wretch. 

When  I  think  of  my  own  weakntfs  and  ijofufficiency,  and 
the  great  number  of  young,  inexperienced  Chriftians  com- 
Kiittcd  tu  my  charge,  my  heart  fhrinks  within  me  ;  and  I  am 
ready  to  wifh  they  liad  a  more  able  and  pious  watchman  to 
go  before  then"».  But  all  the  hope  I  have  is,  that  He 
who  Icadeth  Jofeph  like  a  flock  will  gather  the  lambs  in  his 
arms,  and  gently  lead  his  flock  into  the  flowery  fields  of  got 
pel  truth,  and  bclide  the  Oill  waters  of  eternal  life. 

I  fometimes  anticipate  fo  much  trouble,  that  it  quite  ab- 
foibs  my  fpirits,  and  drowns  my  joy.  Then  I  think  it  bed 
to  rejoice  wliile  I  can,  and  let  to-morrow  take  thought  for 
itfelf. 

It  is,  however,  a  very  interefling  crifis  with  us  ;  if  we  are 
faithful,  and  make  a  right  improvement  of  the  great  mercies 
bellowed  upon  us,  we  may  c*.  ntinue  to  be  a  happy  people  ; 
if  not,  a  ferits  of  trouble  and  forrow  await  us.  Dear  broth- 
er, pray  for  us  that  we  may  be  kept  in  the  love  of  the  truth  ; 
that  the  God  of  love  and  peace  may  ever  dwell  with  us. 

I  mud  not  indulge  my  feelings,  1  Ihali  intrude  upon  your 
patience. 


I. 

delirc 
Inl 
Defel 
pot  a 
when 
the  I 
ed,  a 
to  t!v 
had 
Avent 
admi 
inth 
powc 
the 
Ebei 
ingi 
[    own 
i    ther 
ther 
to  t 

^        } 

\     win 

tori 

rot 

fift 

cot 

litt 

in( 

yo 

Ci 

th 

hi 


I 


•cay,  now 
and  four 
noil  every 
o  exhaiift  \} 
have  the  v 
abundant  | 

i. 

!ncy,  and  f 
ans  com- 

and  I  am  ! 

chman  to  ; 

that  He  I 

bs  in   his  ■ 
s  of  goC' 


quite  ab- 
^  it  befl 
)u^ht  for 


C      II      ] 

knowledge  of  the  truth  ;  and  more  than  that  number  appear 
to  be  under  feiious  impreflions  of  mind. 


if  we  are 
mercies 
people  ; 
ir  broth- 
e  truth  ; 
I  us. 
•on  youp 


e  thu$ 

in  the 
drops 
lay  wc 
Tfraei. 
it  tije 
[  dehi. 
ge  of 

re  are 
to  the 


I 


EXTRACT  7.     The  Rev.  F^P^H^MTof  Jlcer- 

JJIcy  <writes  thus  in  a  letter  to  his  friend  in  Nfivbury-Port,    ■ 

Deer-Ifle,  March  20,  1799. 
Dear  Brothfr^ 

IN  your  lall  letter  to  me,  you  wrote  you  had  licard  there 
was  a  revival  of  religion  fomewhere  in  thefe  parts  j  and 
defired  me  to  give  you  an  account  of  it. 

In  the  beginning  of  June  lall,  I  was  called  to  Mount- 
Defert  to  adminiiler  facraments  to  a  church  who  have 
rot  a  ftated  Paflor,  and  tarried  with  them  about  nine  days  ; 
when,  in  the  preaching  of  my  fecond  Sermon,  the  glory  of 
the  Lord  came  down  in  a  wonderful  manner.  One  convifl- 
cd,  and  hopefully  converted  under  that  Sermon  was  added 
to  the  Church  about  two  days  after,  and  three  others  who 
had  before  obtained  a  hope.  Three  months  after  tliis,  I 
went  a^ain  to  adminifter  the  Lord's  Supper,  at  which  time  I 
admitted  twenty-eight  wlio  had  hopefully  bceii  bi ought  home 
in  the  interval.  The  work  of  coiividion  was  then  going  on 
powerfully  in  that  town  and  fprcading  into  thofe  adjoining  on 
the  fame  ifland.  Our  aflbciation  had  liccnfed  dear  Mr. 
Ebenezer  Eaton  to  preach,  who  improved  his  talent,  labour- 
ing night  and  day  among  them,  whom  the  I^ord  remarkably 
owned.  How  many  have  been  brought  out  fince  I  was 
there,  I  am  not  informed  ;  but,  according  to  the  belt  accounts, 
there  are  many.  The  Lord  multiplv  thti  number  and  add 
to  the  Chuch  of  fuch  as  fliall  be  faved. 

I  now  come  a  little  nearer  home.  In  the  beginning  of 
winter,  this  glorious  work  began  in  Sedgwick,  under  the  paf- 
toral  care  of  the  Rev.  Daniel  Merrill.  Perhaps  there  hatli 
not  been  a  work  fo  powerful,  and  fo  much  like  the  work 
fifty-eight  years  ago.  In  a  time  of  fuch  exfaordlnari^s,  it 
could  not  reafonably  be  expected  but  (on-a.  things  would  be  a 
little  wild  and  incoherent,  confidering  the  various  tempers, 
infirmities  and  difpofitions  of  mankind  :  But  I  believe  my 
young  and  dear  brother  Merrill,  together  with  experienced 
ChrilHans  were  very  careful  to  diftinguilli  the  precious  from 
the  vile — to  correct  errors,  "  to  fet  the  peo]»le  in  the  way  of 
hisfteps,"  fo  Uiat  there  appears  to  be  no  prevalence  of  enthull- 
afm  among  them,  according  to  tlie  beft  information.     How 


'."ii' 


f 


1\ 


l 


/r 


I* 

r. 


C         12         ] 

great  the  number  is  of  thofe  who  have  been  brought  to  hope, 
I  am  not  able  to  give  any  tolerable  good  account :  Some  fay' 
there  are  about  an  hundred,  others  about  double  that  num- 
ber :  I  believe,  they  are  all  very  uncertain.  BlefTed  be 
God,  the  work  is  yet*going  on  there,  though  not  witli  equal 
rapidity , 

And  now,  dear  Sir,  let  your  imagination  paint  to  your 
view  the  itriking  fcene,  of  an  hundred  fouls,  men,  women, 
and  children,  at  the  fame  time  under  the  work  of  the  law. 
The  tears,  fobs,  groans  and  cries  ifluing  from  fcores  at  a 
time  !  All  the  terrors  of  the  law  crowding  and  preiTing  in 
«pon  them  ;  their  fins,  in  infinite  numbers  and  aggravations, 
(taring  them  in  the  face  ;  all  their  old  vain  hopes  gone,  and 
cut  off,  and  every  refuge  failing  !  Hear  them  freely  confef- 
fing  their  old  abominations,  their  former  enmity  to  the  great 
do<n:rines  of  original  fin,  eledion,  the  fovereignty  of  divine, 
free  grace,  the  power  of  God  dlfplayed  in  effectual  voca- 
tion ;  above  all,  the  juftice  of  God  in  their  damnation  ! 
How  often  ar°  fouls  brought  out  into  the  peace  and  comfort 
of  the  love  of  God,  and  the  fweet  confolations  of  the  Holy 
Spirit.  The  dead  hear  the  voice  of  the  Son  of  God,  and 
live.  Children  are  brought  to  cry,  "  Hofanna  to  the  Son  of 
David."  Indeed  this  glorious  work  has  been  wonderful 
among  children  ;  and  God  has  made  inftruments  of  them  to 
perfe<5t  his  praife  in  carrying  on  his  work. 

This  blelfed  work  of  God  has  begun  in  Blue-Hill  ;  but 
as  yet  has  not  gained  the  afcendency.  I  fliall  therefore  come 
to  my  own  dear  people  of  Deer-Ifle.  And  here,  perhaps 
the  work  is  as  remarkable  as  at  Sedgwick,  but  not  fo  rapid. 
Not  more  than  eight  months  ago  it  appeared  to  me  that  re- 
ligion was  near  expiring  among  us,  except  in  a  very  handful 
of  profeflx)rs.  Deifm  had  taken  an  unaccountable  ftride,  and 
fpread  itfelf  over  a  great  number  of"  the  inhabitants.  And 
now,  no  Bible,  no  Chrift,  but  the  Chriftian  religion,  and 
Chriftians,  were  the  fong  of  the  drunkard  ;  and  every  drunk- 
ard, and  every  vice  was  deemed  harmlefs,  and  inoffenfive 
to  God.  I  had  no  reafon  to  think  but  by  the  next  annual 
meeting  of  the  town,  they  would  vote  the  Gofpel  out  from 
them.  When  the  aforementioned  work  at  Penobfcot  and 
Mount  Defert  was  going  on,  it  feemed  to  have  no  influence 
on  our  people.  This,  you  may  be  fure,  was  very  grievous 
to  me.  However,  I  think  I  was  enabled  to  bear  witnefs  to 
tke  truth  witli  great  freedom.      In  Odober,  I  perceived  a 


I 


rnorc 

Aftc) 

pear 

meet 

ited 

whej 

had 

ovvni 

chilJ 

und^ 

Ma^ 

broi 


•i. 


W  •• 


gftt  to  hope.'i 
••  Somefay| 
e  that  num.t 
Blefled  be  I 
with  equal  I 

i^t  to  your 
n>  women, 
•f  the  Jaw. 

Tcores  at  a 

preiTing  in 
gravations, 
gone,   and 
W  conkf,  { 
)  the  great 

of  divine,  i 
uaJ  voca- 
mnation  I  i 
d  comfort  j 
the  Holy  I 
-'^d,  and  J 
|he  Son  of  f 
wonderful 
'f  them  to 

fill  ;  but 

ore  come  | 
perhaps    > 

^  rapid,    l 

■  that  re- 
handful     ? 

ide,  and     ; 

.     And     • 

on,  and 

y  drunk-    ] 

^ffenfive 

t  annual 

ut  from 

^ot  and 

>fluence      ' 

irievoua 

tnefs  to 

iived  a 


z 


13 


] 


more  clofe  attention  to  the  word,  but  nothing  fpeclal  as  yet. 
After  I  was  confined  to  my  houfc,  the  work  began  to  ap- 
pear ;  and  though  1  could  not  go  abroad,  nor  pi  each  at  the 
meeting-houfe,  there  was  feldom  a  day  but  more  or  lefs  vif- 
ited  me  under  their  trouble,  and  I  preached  in  my  own  houfe 
when  I  was  not  able  to  (land  on  my  feet.  At  length  we 
had  the  afTiftance  of  Mr.  2.  Eaton,  whom  God  remarkably 
owns.  I  believe  there  are  about  forty,  men,  women,  and 
children,  who  have  obtained  a  hope  ;  and  great  numbers  are 
under  prefling  conviction.  The  work  is  now  on  the  increafe. 
May  the  Lord  continue  and  ftlll  increafe  it  till  they  are  all 
brought  in.  The  mouth  of  deifm  is  at  prefent  flopped,  and 
againil  the  children  of  Ifracl  not  fo  much  as  a  dog  is  fjffer- 
ed  to  move  his  tongue.  O  may  the  Lord  go  on  from  con- 
quering to  conquer,  till  the  whole  earth  fliall  be  filled  V'th 
his  glory. 

Thus,  dear  Sir,  I  have  complied  with  your  defire.  If 
you  think  proper,  you  may  caufe  the  foregoing  Narrative  to 
be  printed  in  the  newfpapers.  Such  accounts  may  be  a 
mean  of  putting  a  carelefs  people  under  confideration. 


EXTRACT    8.       ^  Letter  from  a  per/on  in 

Deer-IJlej    to  a  Society  nvilh  rvhich  he  is   canneded  in  New* 
bury-Porty  dated  March  1 5,  1 799. 

Dear  Friends  and  Brcthrertj 

WHILE  I  am  partaking  a  rich  repaft,  I  heartily  de- 
fire  my  friends  may  have  a  fiiare  of  a  feaft  in* 
deed.  It  is  in  vain  for  me  to  attempt  to  defcribe  the  won- 
ders of  the  love  and  grace  of  God  manifefted  in  a  marvellous 
manner  among  us,  and  in  the  adjacent  parts.  It  has  pleafed 
God  to  vifit  us  by  tlie  out-pouring  of  his  bleffed  Spirit,  fo  that 
even  oppofers  acknowledge  it  to  be  the  work  of  God,  of 
whom  fome  of  the  greateit  have  been  (I  hope)  favingly 
wrought  upon. 

This  bleffed  and  glorious  work  firfl  began  in  a  fmall 
neighbourhood  that  have  lived  in  a  carclefo  and  negligent 
manner  as  to  the  attendance  on  the  means  of  grace  :  The 
head  of  the  firft  family  that  was  wrouj^ht  upon,  is  a  man  of 
about  lixty  years  of  age  :  I  never  fiw  him  at  meeting  but 
twice  iince  I   lived  on  the  ifland,    biiore  diis  winter  ;  God 

]3 


i 


! 


I 


:* 


I'* 


l!!* 


•  til'!-' 

ill 


11 


M 


Cm] 

1i%3  been  pleafed  to  vlfit  him  and  his  wife,  and  t^cv  both 
appeir  to  be  humble  Chri(lian5,  with  feveral  others  of  that 
family.  The  work  is  daily  incrcafing  and  fprcadinj;  through 
the  town  ;  there  were  4  or  5  brought  into  the  light  under 
one  fermon  this  week  ;  there  have  £9  pcrfons  come  forward 
and  made  a  public  profcflion  of  religion,  and  joined  the 
Church  already,  and  nearly  as  many  more  profefs  to  have  a 
hope. 

This  work  has  been  more  extend ve  in  Sedgwick  :  I  am 
credibly  informed  it  has  viiited  every  houfe  for  14  miles, 
and  about  one  hundred  fouls  are  hopefully  converted. 
What  fiiall  we  fay  to  theft  things  ?  Let  us  adore  the  free 
grace  of  our  bleiTed  God  and  Saviour.  I  think  there  is 
great  encouragement  for  all  that  love  our  Lord,  and  have 
an  intereft  at  the  throne  of  grace,  to  plead  with  God  to 
fpread  this  glorious  woik.  I^et  us  all  adore  and  praife  his 
name  for  his  wonderful  works  to  the  fons  of  men.  I  blefs 
God  that  he  has  given  me  to  fee  fuch  glorious  days  of  the 
Son  of  Man,*.  It  has  been  a  Sabbath  to  mc  all  this  winter ; 
I  have  enjoyed  a  continual  fead,  and  find  it  good  to  wait  on 
God.  I  had  rather  be  a  door-keeper  in  his  houfc,  than  to 
(Jwell  in  the  tents , of  i-n. 

Q  that  it  would  pleafe  God  to  cauf^  a  glorious  fiiower  of 
divine  grace  to  defcend  upon  you.  My  foul  longs  for  your 
falvation,  that  every  member  of  your  little  focitty  may  be  a 
partaker  of  the  heavt-nly  grace  ;  may  this  be  a  mean  of  ftir- 
ring  you  up,  and  engaging  your  hearts  in  the  things  of  God. 
Let  not  worldly  cares  turn  vaur  attention  from  this  moft 
important  concern  :  Npt  only  our  prelent  but  everlalHng 
happinefs  lies  htie,o 

EXTRACT    0.        J   later   ivritten   by    Mrs. 

A •?/5fV^/«  i^^c  D'ljlrkl  of  Maine,  to  the  Rev.  I 

JS — — •,  cii  middUboroiigh. 

Litchfield,  April  6,  1799. 

Bear  Sir, 

THERE  lias  been  a  wonderful  out-pouring  of  God's 
Spirit  in  thefe  pirts  this  winter  ;  efpccially  among  the 
youth.  As  many  ns  25  have  joined  this  charc'a  this  vvinter, 
who  are  not  more  thin  20  years  old  ;  and  one  lad  \vho  was 
but  nine.  I  believe  there  is  not  one  houfe  nilfrtd  for  leven 
or  ei^ht  wiilcs,  bat  what  the  i.ord  iias  taken  fonie  out  of  cv- 


V. 


r\)  01 

feirj 

tiot 

whil 

cani 

woi 

notl 

lliOJ 

wei 
faii 


I 


^ 
fc 

^ 

t 


m: 


111 

■:i.- 


3iey  both 
s  of  that 
[T  throi!"h 
,^ht  under 
f:  forward 
:)!ncd  the 
:o  have  a 

:    T  am 

4  miJes, 
•nverted. 
the  free 
there   is 
id    have 
God   to 
raife  his 
I   bicfs 
s  o£ the 
winter  ; 
wait  on 
than  to 

)wer  of 
i)r  your 
uy  be  a 
offHr. 
fGod. 
s  moft 
dalHiiH 


Mrs. 
99. 


God's 
ig  the 

u' inter, 
o  was 
ft'vsn 
ofcv- 


I 


[     '«;     5 

«ry  family.  And  one  family,  who  but  a  few  years  ago  wcri* 
H)  open  oppofition  to  this  caufe,  7  out  of  1 1  have  now  proi^ 
fcffed  to  know  Jefus  Chrifl  and  the  power  of  his  refurrec- 
tion  ;  one  of  whom  was  baptized  laft  Lord's  ,day.  And 
while  we  were  by  the  water  fide,  the  power  of  the  Lord 
came  down  Uke  the  rulhing  of  a  mighty  wind*  One  young 
woman  was  fo  ilruck  with  a  f.nfe  of  her  duty,  that  fhe  could 
not  itand  "  on  her  ftet.  The  ])eople  feeing  her  faulter,. 
tlioup/iit  Ihe  was  faint  ;  but  fhe  faid,  No,  no  ;  her- friends 
were  in  fuch  oppofition  to  tiie  Baptiif-:-;,  diat  {he  had  nev<a: 
faid  any  thing  openly  about  religion. — In  the  afternoon  in- 
flcad  of  a  fermon  flie  told  her  exeicifes,  and  two  more, 
who  were  baptized  the  fiime  day.  We  thought  the  reform- 
ation was  almolf  over  in  this  place  ;  but  we  find  tiie  Lord 
has  not  forfakcn  us  ;  bicifcd  be  his  name,  he  is  Iliil  giving 
U3  a  tadc  of  his  love. 


EXTRACT  ro.     Another  letter^   cht^d  Bozv 

doinham,  ^pnl  29,   1799,  frotnthe  Rev.  JtH^  M-j(^Um 

to  the  fame  ^  contains  the  following* 

SINCE  our  laft  aflbciation,  elder  William  Stinfon,  who 
is  ordained  over  the  firft  church  in  Litchfield,  has  bap- 
tized 1 18.  The  greateft  part  of  them  beloag  to  that  town. 
The  winter  before  laft  there  was  the  moft  powerful  work  in 
Bowdoin  that  I  ever  faw  fince  I  came  into  thefe  parts. 
It  prevailed  :hrough  the  town.  Elder  Potter  baptized  2  a 
in  one  (iay.  And  it  was  as  powerful  in  Litchfield  laft  win- 
ter ;  Elder  Stinibn  baptized  13  there  in  one  day.  Thefe 
were  two  as  cold  winters  as  were  ever  known  here.  The 
work  has  now  begun  in  this  town.  Six  perfons  have  lately 
manifefted  a  change  of  heart ;  two  of  them  are  my  chil,» 
eticn.     The  work  ftill  prevails. 


EXTRACT 


II.      A  young  Lady  from  the  fame 

place ^  iv rites  as  follows* 

THE  6th  day  of  laft  February,  I  was  taken  as  it  were 
out  of  the  belly  of  hell,  and  my  feet  fet  upon  a  rock, 
and  anewfong  putinto  my  mouth,  even  praifeto  the  Moft  High. 
The  heavens,  which  I  before  thought  wore  a  gloomy  afpe(5l, 
now  feemed  to  glitter  with  the  glory  of  God.  And  the  an- 
imal creation  feemed  jointly  to  whif  )er  praifcs  to  their  Crca- 


I 


'f. 


.''11; 
.'1 

K 

■#'■ 

\ 


! 


I 


t'  '    ' 


f, ' 


1.. 


'  ./  i, 


li     .1 


C        i6       ]  ' 

tor.  This  new  Tcene  reminded  me  ofman  in  his  fii  ft  fi«ippy 
ftate.  In  this  frame  I  had  a  view  of  the  juftice  of  God,  and 
of  Chrlft's  fufferings,  which  I  can  defcrrbe  to  none  but  thofe 
>vho  have  drank  of  the  fame  fountain.  February  9th,  I  was. 
enabled  to  follow  my  blefild  Saviour  into  tlie  water  ;  but  I 
have  Ijnce  been  brought  to  feel  that  I  am  nothing,  and  ta 
abhor  myfelf.* 


EXTRACT  1 2.    From  the  Rev.  J D- 

In   IVorja- Scotia y  to  his  friend  in  Bojlon^    dated  Halifax t 
May  25,  1799. 

Dear  Brother, 

NO  rWITHSTANDING  many  complaints  as  to  the- 
(late  of  rcJigion  in  fome  parts  ;  yet  God  is  marvel- 
loufly  vifiting  fcvcrai  towrfliit.s  with  the  fluiwers  of  his  grace* 
In  Annnpolis  County  the  follawing  places  have  fhared  large- 
ly, viz.  Granville,  Wilhnouth,  Ni<5tan,  and  Aylcsford.  In 
King's  CoiiVi)',  Horton  and  Cornwallis  have  been  wonder- 
fully vifittd'.  "  Sinners  have  been  converted  to  God,  and 
Chriftians  to  their  duty.  Two  Pedo-baptift  Minifters  have 
been  baptized,  and  a  great  many  young  converts.  The 
three  iaft  facramental  occafions,  I  think  there  were  baptized',, 
the  I  ft.  thirteen — the  2d.  twenty-feven — the  3d.  twenty- 
eight. 

There  are  alfo  fome  favourable  fymptoms  among  the  Dutch 
people  at  Lunenbur^;h.  Many  of  them-  that  had  been  vio^ 
lent  oppofers  of  rehgion,  having  fpent  all  their  arrows,  fay 
they  will  fight  no  more.  Some  are  under  very  ferious  im- 
prefiions,  and  a  few  hopeflUly  converted. 


EXTRACT  13.      Containing  a  further  account 

of  the  fjf.ie  ivorkf  in  a  Letter  from  the  Rev.  7 //.  C > 

to  his  friend  Ik  B'jhth  dated  Annapolis y  July  15,  1 799^ 

Dear  Sir, 

I  AM  confident  you  will  be  glad  to  hear  of  the  advance- 
ment of  Chrift's  kingdom,  though  by  an  unfl<ilful  hand, 
'i  herefore  fhall  attempt  to  give  you  fome  account  of  what 
God  has  done  among  us.     The  Fall  after  I  vas  lail;  at  Bof- 


*  llie  firft  church  in  the  Bowdoinham  alTociation  was  conftitu- 
tcd  in  Mav,  r7S4,  aad  now  thty  have  29  churches  and  1353  mem.* 
bers. 


I 

i 


• 


1 


ton 


,J 


II  ft  fiappy 
God,  and 
but  thofe 
jth,  I  was 
;  but  I 
If  and  to 


I 


lia/iJliXf 


as  to  the 
5  marvel- 
lis  grace, 
ed  Targe- 
)rd.  In 
wonder- 
od,  and 
ers  have 
s.  The 
)aptizedy 
twenty- 

leDutch. 
seen  vio-* 
Dws,  fay; 
ious  im-» 


iccount 

799- 

dvance- 
1  hand. 
)f  what 
at  Bof- 

:onftitu« 
f3  meiu« 


1. 


i 


I 


c 


] 


ton,  It  pleafed  God  to  viflt  our  Society,  at  the  lower  part  of 
Granville  ;  it  was  a  blefTed  time  of  God's  power,  and  ad- 
ditions were  made  to  the  Church.  A  year  ago  laft  January, 
God  began  to  vifit  us  here,  and  in  our  Society  at  Willmouth, 
where  I  preach  a  third  part  of  my  time.  It  has  been  a  moft 
aftonifliing  time  of  God's  power,  fuch  as  1  never  knew  be- 
fore. I  cannot  give  you  a  full  defcription  of  it.  I  have 
been  frequently  called  out  of  my  bed  at  night  to  vifit  diftrcflal 
fouls.  They  have  fometimes  been  brought  from  the  deepefl 
dirtrefs  to  fiiout  the  praifes  of  the  living  God.  My  four  eld- 
ell  children,  I  doubt  not  are  made  pai  takers  of  grace  divine. 
Two  of  them  are  baptized.  Since  the  work  began,  I  have 
baptized  173  perfons  (in  about  thirteen  months)  but  not  al'l 
in  our  church.  CornwalUs  and  Horton  have  Ihared  largp'y 
with  us.  I  have  baptized  two  of  our  Minifters  *  lall  ft; 
mer,  and  am  to  baptize  another  as  foon  as  I  can  go  where 
he  lives. 

Our  Congregations  have  increafed  greatly.  Lafl:  year  we 
built  a  new  Meeting-Houfe  at  the  upper  end  of  Granville, 
where  I  preach  a  third  part  of  my  time,  and  this  fummer  we 
have  enlarged  it  twenty  feet.  O  that  we  may  never  be  high- 
minded,  but  fear. 


EXTRACT  14.     Frojn  a  Mhitftcr  in  Connc8i' 

ctitf  to  his  friend  hi  BoJIun. 

Lyme,  June  30,  1799. 
Dear  Broth-T  in  Chrijlf 

ACCORDING  to  your  deiire,  I  will  endeavour  to  de- 
fciibe  lome  of  the  efFccSls  of  the  glorious  work  of"  God 
in  this  place,  the  preceedlng  Fall  and  Winter.  Prtvious  to 
which,  I  niufl  inform  you,  there  was  a  great  Ibipidity  on  llic 
minds  of  our  brethren,  who  appeared  to  dwell  in  iheir  ceiled 
h.oiifcs  while  the  houfe  of  God  lay  wafte.  There  were  a  fe\7 
drops  in  the  n'ionih  of  Augull  ;  but  on  tlie  firi^  Lotd"s-i!ay 
in  September,  many  begun  to  be  alarmed  ;  we  therefore 
thought  it  our  duly  to  appoint  a  day  of  falling  and  prayer, 
wh.ich  was  on  the  fevtndi  dav  of  the  fame  month. — Tiiere 
was  an  univerfJ  lolemnitv,  and  profound  attention  cbftived 
on  the  lace  ofi^K'  ..iilnbly,   whivh  exceeded  any  thing  I  ev- 

*  '1  ills  Ct'imc-aoa  ur  .^iloci^tiuu  was  formed  of  Ped&  aud  A:icU 
pcdo-h^pLiU. 

13  z 


'?„ 


t' 

r 


I 


% 

I 

( 

1 
i 


n 


r.  i' 


•.,tj 


l\ 


C      i«      ] 

cr  faw  before. — It  was  a  fafl  day  Indeed.  The  faints  arofe 
by  conieflion  of  the  infinite  evil  of  fin, — with  fixed  refoKi- 
tion  to  live  a  new  life. — And  in  the  clofe  of  the  day  (like 
St.  Paul)  they  thanked  God,  and  took  courage.  After  this, 
our  meetings  inercafed,  and  the  blefled  effufions  of  the  Ho- 
ly S])iiit  were  diililled  upon  us.  It  was  aiFefting  to  behold 
the  iaints  exhorting  ;  backfliders  returning  ;  and  poor  fin;- 
ners  crying  for  mercy.  On  the  firft  Lord's-day  in  0<Slober 
we  attended  on  the  ordinance  of  baptifm.  My  poor  foul 
was  warmed  with  the  love  of  God,  wliich  made  me  fpeak 
from  tlie  heart,  and  it  reached  the  hearts  of  my  brethreni^ 
and  the  dear  affcmbk'  ;  and  we  felt  the  union  of  the  Trini- 
ty  furrounding  us,  when  approaching  the  Loid's  table. 

After  this,  conferences  increafed.  My  brethren  were 
much  engaged  in  prayer  to  God  for  the  out-pouiing  of  his 
Spirit.  At  fome  of  our  conft  rjnces  there  was  agreatfolem- 
nity  upon  the  youth  and  childr.^n  ;  one  of  whom  mourned 
that  Ihc  had  lived  in  fin  twelve  years,  till  ftie  thought  (he  was 
become  an  old  finner  ;  but  it  plea.redGod  at  this  time  to  re- 
veal Chrift  to  her  and  many  others,  and  to  give  them  the 
'ho]'e  of  glory- 

On  the  firi\  Lord's-day  in  November,  I  baptized  two.— 
It  was  ri  good  feafon.  The  ninth  of  this  month,  was  a 
memorable  right !  The  Lord  glorioufly  manifefted  his  power 
and  love  in  bringing  three  perfons  into  the  clear  liberty  of  the 
Gofpel  ;  one  of  whom  w  as  my  fifth  child,  who  I  trufl  is 
brought  into  the  kingdom  of  Chrilt,.  and  who  in  her  expe- 
rience relates,  (like  Mary)  that  (he  had  a  difcovery  ot'  him 
in  tlie  garden,  and  cried  out,  Rabboni  I  Another  iii  agony 
ofToul,  alfo  cried  out,  "  If  I  do  go  to  hell,  I  will  go  begging 
for  mercy  !"  and  her  diflrtfs  rolkd  on  to  fuch  a  degree,  that 
fhe  left  her  chamber  the  latter  part  of  the  night,  and  paired 
into  a  burying  yard,  and  f.ll  on  her  knees  in  fharp  diftrefs, 
till  the  kind  Lord  revealed  himfelf  to  her  in  a  wonderful- 
manner.  The  third  wis  a  woman,  near  forty  years  of 
age,  who  gave  a  clear  relation  of  the  love  of  God  in  her  foul 
from  day  to  day.  We  now  faw,  both  in  the  houfe  of  God 
and  in  our  own  houfes,  the  .fweet  whifpers  of  the  bleffed 
i)ovc  ;  and  ftout-he;.rted  finners  bowiaig  to  the  fceptre  of 
the  great  Emanuel. 

The  firlt  of  December,  was  our  Covenant  Meeting  pie- 
ceding  the  Lord's-davj  and  which  was  taken  up  in  heaiing 
the  iclaiions  of  candidates.    A  ;iumbcr  more  related  theu 


• 


exerc 


i  "very 

'*  whor 
4  faint! 
'^  were 
I  unite 

'i  is  alf 
':  orde 
.  the 
i  ings 
and 
tedio 
at  th 
T 
love, 
itgr; 
the  < 
detei 
of  \ 
lefs  I 
with 
T 
it  ha 
than 
and 
wat( 
\ 


my 

me 

My 

und 

deal 

hun 

] 

bee 
inl 
atit 

viz 

iihj 


lints  arofe 
;d  refolu- 
day  (like 
\fter  this, 
the  Ho- 

0  behold 
poor   fin- 

1  0<5tober 
)Oor  foul 
me  fpeak 
brethren,^ 
he  Trim- 
ble. 

ren  were 
[ig  of  his 
at  folem- 
mouFned 
it  (he  was 
ne  to  re- 
them  tlic 

J  two. — 
1,  was  a 
iiis  power 
ty  of  the 
I  truft  is 
ler  expe- 
f  of'  hiru 
m  agony 
3  begging 
^ree,  that 
nd  paffed" 
>  didrefs, 
onderfui- 
years  of 
her  foul 
of  God 
;  bkffed 
qnre   of 

ting  pie- 
\  healing 
ted  thcif 


C      19      ]  ,    ' 

Sexercifes  the  day  following  ;  and  notwithftanding  it  was  2 
'  very  fevere  fnow-ftorm,  twelve  were  baptized,  a  number  of 
V  whom  were  youths  from  ten  to  fifteen  years  of  age.     The 
'  faints  in  general  were  animated  with  the  love  of  God,  and 
'  were  mighty  in  prayer  for  precious  fouls,  triumphing  over  the 
united  powers  of  darknefs.     Indeed  it  is  almoft  beyond  my 
power  to  give  a  full  defcription  of  this  wonderful  fcene.     It 
is  alfo  to  be  remarked  that  our  brethren  of  the  Prefbyteriaa 
order  and  other  denominations  joined  with  us  in  promoting 
the  caufe  of  our  bleflcd  Redeemer.     About  this  time,  meet- 
ings on  week-days  were  attended  to,  for  receiving  candidates, 
and  attending  to  hi ,  tifm  ;  and  through  the  feverity  of  this 
tedious  winter,  I  have  not  heard  any  one  complain  or  (brink 
-  at  the  crofs,  on  account  of  the  coldnefs  of  the  weather. 

This  work  has  been  glorioufly  carried  on  in  the  fpirit  of 
love.  In  the  firft  part  of  it,  there  was  great  outcrying,  but 
it  gradually  fubfided  into  a  free  deliberate  converfation  on 
the  dreadful  fituation  they  were  in  by  nature  ;  and  their  full 
determination  to  continue  feeking  till  they  (hould  find  him 
of  whom  Mofes  and  the  prophets  did  write.  I  never  faw 
lefs  oppofition  in  any  work  of  God  I  ever  was  acquainted 
with. 

The  principal  part  of  this  work,  was  in  this  focicty  ;  but 
it  has  fpread  into  others  in  the  neighbouring  towns.  More 
than  a  hundred  we  hope  have  received  the  grace  of  God ; 
and  more  than  eighty  have  joined  with  the  Church  under  my 
watch  care. 

When  I  confider  the  great  number  of  fouls  committed  to 
my  charge  and  my  own  infufficiency,  my  heart  (brinks  within 
but  all  my  hope  is  in  the  great  Head  of  the  Church. 


me 


My  daily  prayer  is  that  he  would  grant  me  his  grace  as  an 
under  Shepherd,  to  difcharge  my  duty  towards  God  and  my 
dear  Flock,  during  the  few  remains  of  life. 

The  number  of  members  under  my  care  at  prefent,  is  tliree 
hundred  and  thirty- lix. 


INFORMATION,  though  not  very  corredt,  has  alfo 
been  received  from  a  number  of  towns  in  Chcfhire  County, 
in  New-Hampihire,  of  a  very  ^leafing  and  extenfive  reform- 
ation there. 

The  following  towns  are  faid  to  have  (hared  largely  in  it, 
viz.  Unity.  Marlow,  Lemfter,  Alftead,  Ackworth,  Corn- 
iih,  and  Pliiinfield,  witU  fynie  gihers  io  tlat  neighbouihood. 


f 


'    I 


II 


i 


I: 

I'  ll' 

-.■llff 


I 


til' 


} 

I 

'in 

I 


i: 


[  20  1 
Tlu'  towns  of"  Strath.ir.i  and  New-market,  in  New-Hamp- 
fhire,  are  favoured  at  :his  time  witii  like  reviv.ils ;  but  for  want, 
of  accurate  documents,  a  particular  nccount  cannot  be  given. 
It  tl^  reptnt.uicc  of  one  finner  caufes  joy  in  heaven  among 
the  anocls  of  God,  what  fhouts  of  immort:d  j.raifc  nniit  liave 
eclioed  throa;^li  all  the  realms  of  bKfs,  u])on  the  acce'lion  of 
fuch  numbers  to  the  [ledeemei's  kinoJom  ! 

0  Lord,  may  thy  kingdom  come,  and  thy  will  be  done, 
on  earth  uS  in  lieaven,  for  ChrifPs  fake.     Amen. 

J  LiUcr  to  a  GcKtLman  in  New-England, 

Di'AR  Sir, 

I  AM  conceinv-d  at  the  lengtli  of  time  which  has  elapfed 
ilnce  I  wrote  you  la.l ;  but  the  truth  of  the  matter  is,  I 
have  been  waiting  from  dav  to  day,  and  from  month  to 
month,  to  obtain  intelligence  that  might  be  worth  the  poi"^- 
a;:e,  -A'i  I  have  long  expected  the  publication  of  the  Miffionary 
Journal,  which  would  have  furnilln^d  me  w ith  many  intereft- 
ing  anecdotes,  it  has  not  yet  come  out,  and  therefore  I  have 
only  written  you  now  as  a  Ibrt  of  promillory  note,  to  ufTure 
you  that  you  iliail  foon  have  a  long,  and  I  am  fure  I  may 
venture  to  fav,  ve:;,  acceptable  letter,  which  I  hope  will 
cirulc  the  tiiankfgiving  of  many  to  abound. 

1  fincerely  i,l;ank}OLi,  iar,  for  exerting  yourfelf  to  obtain 
a  miffionary  piayer  mecLin^  at  Vafl'ai borough  ;  the  news  of 
it,  as  well  a?  your  oth.r  conimunications,  has  rejoiced  feveral 
pious  fuendf:  10  Vv'hon:  I  have  mentioned  it,  and  it  will  flurtly 
be  aanoun*.cd  10  the  public  tLroa^h  the  medium  of  the 
iivangelica'.  Mna.azine. 

I  hope  It  v.iii  not  be  long  before  I  write  to  the  minifters 
y('V  jpcndonci.!,  as  1  fliall  'LA  it  a  peculiar  privilege  to  corrcf- 
ppnd  v,';t!i  fi.ch  men  as  ye  ■  clc'cribc  them  to  be.  You  can- 
ret  imc'.ine  wi'Ut  plearare  it  afforded  me  to  hear  of  their  gy- 
ing  intc  the  wildernvis  ?o  win  ioi.;lj  to  Chrill.  Pray  give  my 
love  to  t!it;-n,  and  tLi'i  then  i  know  no  party  diiHnetions  ; 
every  one  v. ho    i^vts   Jeius,   and  ])ities   poor  flnners,   Is  riiy 


ifame  Te 

; leach  ot 

egarde 

IfScotlar 

"piritua 

oor  S 

any  a 

You 

fat  Edii 

'Idoors 

,|Metho 

t|good-n 

;^and  go 

itdoor-k 

|fomucl 

Inhere 

iengage 

Uto  hole 

Ithe  Ts 

r^of «  t: 

are  opi 
acquai 
always 
minifte 
occafic 
;  biblts 

:,  Dif 

I  and  ot 


friend  and  n'v  LioilK 
near,  when  everv  \y..\ 


O  Sir,  the   time   is   coniin;:,    it   ii 


I  P'^inte 
tion  a 


:ion  \;J\  will  be  lulled  dov/r 


I,  and  ai 


il 


■o  on 


S  Vv'ald' 

':riOL 


iCn  W!fi   KC 


i. 


:ve  to  eve. 


1 


<- 


itl 


n  tins  reipe 


ect,  ti 


rm 


^■ 


tCi 


^X  t..w 


'y  ua.>iei 


V\'e  nov/  Ice  hi.lf  a  do^en  minii- 
dcnciViir.flticriS,  cn^a^ir.;^  in  th: 


(IS!! 


W'-Hamp 


[      2r      ] 


ind. 


»'  1799' 


s 


tfor  u"i  '  ^^'""^  A-Tvlce,  with  exprefllons  of  the  mofl  cordial  affc(5Hon  to 

^j,    •  ' ' '' !|each  other  ;    men  who,  a  few  years  ago,  throu;»h  bigotry, 

tn  I  lo    *   ^^S^""^*^*^  ^''^^  othei  as  (lern  foes.     The  llainc  has  reached 

iniii  ha  *  *|Scotland  alfo.     Warm  afre(5tion,  lively  zeal,  and  increafmg 

c'lion    <: ^ffp'rituality   have   fucceeded  the  frigid  orthodoxy  for  which 

"  Ijjoor  Scotland  has  of  late. years  been  too  famous.    There  are 

be   don     iP^^'^y  adverfaries,   but  that  miift  be  expected. 

'^  Your  favourite,  dear  Rowland  Hill,  has  been  preaching 
:^at  Edinburgh,  Glafgow,  &c.  but  you  may  ru;)pofe  the  Kirk 
Idoors  were  foon  clofed  agiinfthim  ;  fo  he  took  the  riglit 
IMcthodid  way  of  ftrct  t  aiid  lield  preaching  ;  and  in  his  odd, 
-fgood-natured  way,  he  fays,  "  Scotland  has  good  churches 
>'and  good  ji^fons,  but  the  worft  of  all  is,  the  devil  is  their 
Jdoor-kecpcr."  His  labours  have  been  eminently  blcfTed,  in- 
elapfed  ^fomuch  that  many  thoufands  in  Kdinburgh  defired  a  ])lace 
tter  IS,  I  l^vhere  fuch  preaching  might  be  continued  to  them.  They 
month  to  Icngaged  a  fpacious  theatre,  called  the  CiicuSr  which  is  faid 
the  pol'^-  fto  hold  above  feven  thoufand  people  ;  have  coniiituted  it  on 
iimonary  iihe  Tabernacle  plan,  and  have  given  it  the  new  good  name 
r  intereft-  >of  «*  The  Edinburgh  Tabernacle  ;'*  and  indeed  Tabernacles 
re  I  have  are  opening  throughout  Scotland.  It  may  be  neceflary  ta 
acquaint  you  what  is  meant  by  the  "  Tabernacle  plan*' — It 
always  fupj^ofes  a  regular  minifter,  and  a  \aj|i^€ty  of  vifiting 
minifters,  with  a  hearty  welcome  to  every  npfinllter  who  may 
occafionally  be  upon  the  fpot.  This  plan  affords  variety,  ex- 
to  obtain  .;  biblts  love,  and  dcftroys  petty  difHnditions  and  party  fpirit. 
;  Diftradled  Ireland  has  like  wife  had  a  call.  In  Dublia 
*  and  other  place?,  evangelical  preachers  meet  with  encourage- 
l  ment.  Mr.  Hill  has  been  there  ;  and  Mr.  Cooper,  a  zeal- 
■^  ous  young  man  who  is  uncommonly  popular,  is  now  going  ; 
I  may  the  Lord  go  with  him,  and  make  him  a  blefling  to  many. 
I  You  love  anecdotes,  I  know  ;  fliall  I  give  you  another  ? 
I  When  Rowland  Hill  was  in  Ireland  lafl  year,  the  Papifts 
ii  had  refolved  to  murder  him  the  next  time  he  (hould  preach 
"^1  out  of  doors.  He  vas  apprized  of  it,  and  his  friends  wifhed 
I  him  to  decline  prei;,ching.  It  was  all  to  no  purpofe  ;  come 
I  life  or  death,  he  declared  he  would  preach.  At  the  ap- 
I  pointed  time,  thoufands  were  afTembJed,  vowing  his  deftruc* 
tion  as  foon  as  lie  (liould  begin.  They  waited — no  preacher 
appeared — their  patience:  was  almoft  exhaufled.  At  laA  a 
man  in  a  large  coaclmian's  coat  mixed  with  the  crowd — iiw 
quired  what  they  were  waiting  for — told  them  he  was  forry 
they  fhould  be  difappoiated^ — would  try  if  he  could  preach  % 


to  uiTure 
re  I  may 
ope   will 


news  of 
:1  fever  al 
11  m,)rtly 
1  of  the 

nuniflers 
)  correl- 
'^ou  can- 
heir  ay- 

o 

give  my 
K'tions  j 
,  is  ir.y 
;>    it   is 

.ip.cl  ail 
:,  tilings 
1  minii- 

in  th: 


1*1 


II! 


4 


t 


Mni 


ll„.lllt 

t'lii'!! 

|- 

■(!■' ; 
.It" 


r    ^2   1 

but  ficrliit^is  th^Y  vciild  kill  him  ?   They  apj)t,iudtd   liim~« 

.'Hlu'.  li  Iniii  ot  pioUA't'ori — 'J)d  he  bc;ian. It  w.«s  iio-w. 

land  Hill  himlllf !   and  it  is  believed  manv  were   cunvjrtc, 
at  that  time.      Mcihiuki  1  htur  you  fay  to  this,    liullclujdhj 
Piiufc  iht:  Loid. 

Our  iiilriojjs  too  are  growinor  like  good  BilTiop  "Rurnct^ 
and  iTj  charging  their  civr^y  to  outlive,  outpray,  and  oui^ 
p    ..;:n  U3.      Vo  this  I  add  my  hearty  Amen. 

Th:  ugii  I  can  nivc  you  but  nn  imptMf.cH  account  of  M'iflion- 
ary  Concerns  ai  prrfcnt,  it  will  gvaiify  you   to   prcfint   yoii^ 
vith  an  outline  of  tlicir  procetdir.g?.     You   anxioufly  warj 
for  -.'U  account  .''"{heir  voya;;e,  and  wifli  to  know  how  they;* 
wti>-  i-cf  ivcu  .it  Oi.ilii-ite.     BcHeve  ine,  dear  Jv<,  all  has  ex« 
C( ;  dcd   our  UiU.'r  fm^uii.e  txiifctations.     I'hcir' voyage  was 
one  urSiokur,  chiiin  of  nu.rcies  I    No   Tckncfs — no  death — 
tiv  dilcoiK'.-nt.     The  rcmurkabie   providences  they  witnefild 
Wt.ri;  i\)  Hxiny  ■^.mi  Co  great,  that  I  knt>w  not  what  to  record. 
V  what  to  omit.     Tiie  elements  were  controlled  for    theirl 
f^ik.s  ;  they  txpeiienced  no  (brms  !     When  under  a  vertif 
cat  fun,  they  were  icreened  from  its  fcovching  rays  by  inter* 
vening  clouds,  fuch  as  the  failors  declared  they  had  never! 
bclore   witnt. ffed.     And  when  the  ftiip  returned  home,  her| 
fails  and  rig;.:inj  were  in  the  beft  condition  imaginable.    Onef 
dan^'^er  (and  tbafJV  fciious  one)  they  encountered  near  one; 
fjf  the  South  Sea  Ifiands.    The  fhip  f^ruck  upon  a  coral  reef,* 
which  caufed  fcriour,  apprehenfions  ;  but  ihe  was  got  off  with 
out  any  injury,  as  they   then  fuppoftd^^.though   the   bottom^ 
being  examined  after  (he  came  home,   it   was  difcovered  to* 
be  fo  torn  by  the  rock:-,  tliat,  had  they  met  with  a  ftorm  on: 
tlieir  homeward  paffa^^e,   flic  certainly  muft  have  foundered. 
hi  fea. 

You  will  eafily  recollect  that  we  thought  their  chief  diffi- 
culty would  he  in  acciuiiing  a  knowledge  of  the  Otaheitan 
language  ;  but  that  Jehovah  Jtfus  who  lent  them  foith  had 
provided  inctrpreters  beforehand.  There  v/ere,  on  the  differ-' 
cnt  iflands  where  MilTions  were  to  be  eftabliflied,  feveral  Eu- 
ropean men,  who  had  been  fhip  wrecked  at  different  times-, 
and  iome  other-,  who,  \Uien  fliips  touched  at  the  iflarjs, 
had  left  the  vciklr,  and  concealed  themfelves  among  the  Lu- , 
tives  :   Ihefe  men  were  highly  ferviceable. 

Another  difilcu'.ty  we  fuppofcd  would  arife  from  the  want 


frulv  1' 

Dine  k" 

he  Nat 

hey   ol 

them  at 

hey  let 

ong  an 

hip  arr 

vas  fltu 

)f.it  par 

he  M:l 

of 


a  dwelliin;,-pl.ice  ;  foi    the   females  eipecially.    Will  it  be 


Doner 

irpon  tl 

cters, 

,e  hou 

ttentio 

;hcm  c 

)e(^s  fl 

'  The 

ale  cl 

iKing) 

ave  it 

[Child. 

e  is  to 

.teach  t 

the  bef 

firft  ler 

pie,  att 

well  d\ 

but  coi 

Native 

fpeak  I 

the  in  I 

human 

that  b? 

*?are  fet 

4  own  c 

I  they  \\ 

I  of  the 

f  nearly 

many 

alnh.ib 


cnlkd  enthuh«tfui  if  1  £'.y,  God  had  alfo  built  them  a  houfe  i  li  l^-iyc 


id  l;im~ 
w.'S  Row 
cunv'jrtc 
lullclujdh 

)  "BurrK't 

and   ouvj 

f  Mifllon. 
ci  :rit   you. 
Dufly  v/ait'^ 
how  they 
ill  has  ex. 
:^yage  was 
)  death— 
Vv'itnefild 
to  record 
for    their 
:r  a  verti- 
by  inter, 
had  never 
ome,  her 
^le.    One 
near  on? 
:oral  reef,| 
t  ofFwitJi. 
e   bottom 
)vered  to 
ftorm  on 
Sundered! 

hicf  diffi. 
3taheitan 
01  th  had 
he  differ- 
veral  Ea- 
nt  time;', 
I  iflan.ds, 
5  the  L^- 

the  want 
Vill  it  be 
a  houfc  i 


iiily  It  cnnnot — vIU  not.     C,lp^  lVi<^h  vifitt-d  thcf^;  ifliinds 
)iu(.  ffw  years  liiicc  ;  when  he  left  them,  To  att^tchtd   wire 
le  Natives  to  liini,    that   they  would  not  ])in  with  him  till 
;hey   ohtained   an   intimation   that    he  mipju  ^  crhapr  rovillt 
;hcm  at  a  future  poriod.      Kncourajii  d  to  ex)^'-i5>  him  a;;ain, 
hey  let  aboMt    building   a   hmifc  for  his  rer;;ption,  ico  fe<;t 
ong  and  40  vide.     It    'as  jult  comjilctcd  \\\y^n  the  Mi.iioa 
lip  arrived,  and  had  been  named,  I'lie   r'in;^iiih  f  loiifr.      Jt 
•[\<^  (ituaie«l  in  a  dilh-i<?>  called    Mativii,  uiKi!iLiHoii;iblv  the 
■  \\  part  of  the  I  (land,  and  wiuch  the  Soeitty  had  enjoined 
le  MifRonarics  to  obtain  a  formal  i.rant  of,  if  poflil^ile.      No 
boner  had  they  landed,  and  made  tlieir  intentions  of  fettlinjr 
rpon  the  Ifland  known,  through  the  medium  of  thefe  in'-ir- 
reters,  than  his  Oiaheitan  Majt (ly   made  them  a  prcfent  of 
be  houfe,  and  the  whole  didri«it ;  and  fuch  wis  the  care  and 
ttenfion  of  the  Natives  to  the  Miilionaries,  ihit  they  brought 
iem  every  day  a  fufHcicnt  fuj)ply  of  provilions,  and  in  all  le- 
)e(5ls  ftudied  their  inclinations  and  necefiiiics. 
Tiie  vv-ife  of  one  of  the  MilFionarics  war.  delivered  of  a  fc- 
ale  child  juft   before   their  arrival.     When  Pomanu  (the 
King)  faw  the  child,  he  was  fo  delighted  with  it,  he  v/(^uld 
ave  it  called,  My  Deedee  Tahfite,  which  is,  The  Otahcitari 
Child.     The  High  Pried,  who  is  cordially  their  friend,  fays 
lie  is  too  old  to  learn   himfelf,  but  is  ^dad  they  arc  come  to 
,teach  the  people  better  ;  for  that  Prettines  (Ikitain's)  God  is 
the  belt  in  the  world.     My  friend   Mr.  Cover   preached  the 
firft  lermon.      PomaWcand  iiis  chiefs,  with  many  of  the  peo- 
ple, attended  ;    he   took  care  to   make   his  fubjeds  behave 
well  during  lervice,  and  afterwards  laid  it  ^a^  ^God—good — 
but  could  not  learn  all  at  once — might  he  come  again  ?  The 
Natives  alk  when  they  will  throw  away  Pretanes  tongue,  and 
fpeak  like  them.     The  Miiliouarics  have   been  honoured  as 
the  inftruments  of  faving  lever.d   lives  which  were  devoted  as 
human  facrifices,    and  have  obtained  a  folemn  promife  that 
that  barbarous  pra^fllcc  Ihail  forever  ceafe.     Ten  Miifionarics 
are  fettled  at  Tongatoboo,    and  one  at  the  Marq^uefas,  by  his 
I  own  confent  ;  indeed  the  Natives  were  fo  fond  of  him  that 
would  1 


-y 


pan 


of  the  MiiTions  previous  to  his  return  to  England,  I  think, 
nearly  5  months  afterwards.  Schools  were  then  formed, and 
many  children  had  acquired  a  complete  knowledge  of  tlie 
alph;ibet,  and  every  thing  wore  the  moll  pkafing  appearanct. 
I  have  now  to  tell  you  that  other  Millions  are  prepared.    The 


s* 


.'4 
ill 


C     24     ] 

Duff  IS  again  on  her  way  to  the  South  Seas.  Mlfs  Wilks  fsl 
married  to  a  MiiTionary,  and  they  are  gone  in  her  for  Ota-I 
heite.  The  hberaHty  of  the  Britifh  Chriflians  fuffers  nol 
decay.  I  have  fe<:n  a  letter  from  one  of  the  MiHionariesJ 
dated,  I  believe,  from  Plymouth,  and  he  fays,  "  if  we  ftayj 
here  much  longer,  the  Society  had  better  fit  out  a  fecondl 
fliip  to  carry  our  (lores. " 

Dr.  Vanderkempt,  a  Dutch  Phyfician  of  great  erudition] 
and  piety,  came  from  Holland  to  offer  himfelf  as  a  Miflion- 
ary,  though  in  the  decline  of  life.     He  brought  a  young j 
Dutchman  with  him  on  the  fame  errand  :  they,  with  two! 
Englifhmen,  form  a  Million  to  the  Chaffree  Country  in  Af- 
rica ;    and  are,  if  pofiible,  to   fketch  to  Madagafcar  alfo,! 
Thefe  went  out  in  a  Convict  fliip  from  choice,  hoping  to  be 
ferviccable  to  the  poor  wretches  on  their  voyage,  and  took 
with  them  a  great  number  of  Bibles.     Thefe  Millions  failed 
in  company  with  a  great  number  of  other  fhips  under  convoy. 
At  firft  they  had  tolerable  weather,  but  met  with  a  terrible | 
ftorm  off  thej  Madeiras.     The  (hip  in  which  Dr.  Yander- 
kempt  was,  fuffered  prodigioufly  ;  the  night  was  dreadful! 
indeed  ;  all  the  ppmps  were  at  work,  and  yet  the  water  gaineu] 
upon  them.     At  laft,  the  Captain  came  to  the  Miflionaries,  j 
and  told  them  it  was  in  vain  to  diffemble — all  hope  was  I 
over — and  he  every  moment  expedted  the  (liip  would  go  I 
down.    The  MifEonaries  were  happy  in  God,  and  the  young 
Dutchmar  jame  to  Dr.  Vanderkempt,  and  faid  with  great  | 
pleafure,  "  well  Sir,  the  (hip  may  go  down,  but  our  founda^ 
t'loii  cannot  fink."     They  went  to  prayer  and  committed  one  I 
another  to  God— it  was  then  difcovered  that  one  of  the  port- 
holes was  open,  and  was  the  only  caufe  of  the  ihip*s  filling  :  | 
as  foon  as  it  was  flmt,  they  applied  to  the  pumps  with  doable 
alacrity,  and   by  morning-light  were  out   of  danger :  and 
judge  what  mu(t  have  been  their  pleafure,  to  fee  the  little 
Duff  clofe  to  them  uninjured.     This  is  the  laft  intelligence 
we  have  received  from  them.     I  have  now  given  you  all 
the  intelligence  my  paper  will  allow. 

May  grace,  mercy  and  peace  reft  upon  you,  with  every 
new  covenant  mercy — fo  prays  yours  affectionately, 

E.  J.  J. 


fs  Wilks  hi 
LT  for  OtaJ 
fuffers  nol 
[iflionariesJ 
if  we  ftayl 
t  a  fecondl 


erudition 
a  Minion.| 
I  a  young] 
with  two 
itry  in  Af. 
dear  alfo. 
ping  to  be 

and  took 
ions  failed! 
ir  convoy, 
a  terrible  I 
.  Vander- 
'>  dreadful 
tergaineuj 
iflionaries, 
hope  was 
would  goj 
the  young 
/ith  great  I 
ir  founcia- 
litted  one  I 
•  the  port- 
's filling :  I 
th  doable! 
ger :  and 
the  little 
telligence 
\  you  all 


th 


every 


•  J- J- 


